Best explanation given in lay man terms!
Hello. Having ascites before edema is not the most common finding but it is possible, especially if the patient has a very good lymphatic draining system that reabsorb the accumulating fluid in the legs. The drainage from the abdominal cavity is different and depends more from the transhepatic pressures and venous drainage than from the lymphatic system, so it will persist more easily in those cases. Hope that this explanation helps.